Letter to the Editor: Mental health rightfully an issue, but so are guns

The pro-gun lobby has done a good job of switching attention from guns to mental health issues. While I agree that our mental health treatment system is in need of repair, the issue should remain the ready availability of guns and body armor to those with mental health, anger and marital issues, as well as to children.

Arming people in schools won't deal with attackers clad in body armor, as was the case in both the theater and school shootings. People who aren't the purchasers or owners of the weapons often carry out shootings.

The complaint against registration of weapons makes no sense. All vehicles have a VIN, which traces the ownership of them from manufacture to destruction, and a title is registered with the state in every case. Licensure to drive requires proof that the owner can drive, not just that he/she has taken a class teaching them to drive. The license plate on the vehicle is tied to the VIN for rapid identification of ownership, and all owners/drivers are required to carry liability insurance for any damage caused by the vehicle.

No group is opposed to these restrictions, and they are accepted as part of vehicle ownership.

I am not opposed to responsible gun ownership, but I believe that this must include checking purchasers in all transactions, registration of all guns listing owners, and restrictions on the purchase of body armor.

-Allan F. Demorest, licensed psychologist, Des Moines

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Letter to the Editor: Mental health rightfully an issue, but so are guns

The pro-gun lobby has done a good job of switching attention from guns to mental health issues.